[A comparative study of primary human cell cultures of diffuse goiter and cancer of the thyroid gland]

Cells obtained from non-malignified tissues (diffuse struma) in 83 of 100 cases formed a continuous layer consisting of monomorphous epithelioid cells possessing a high adhesive capacity. Cells obtained from thyroid adenocarcinoma (in 5 of 7 cases) showed lowered adhesiveness and did not form a monolayer. The culture consisted of polymorphous cells. Gigantic multinuclear cells and these with spheroid colorless inclusions in nuclei were encountered. In tripsinization of the tumor tissue obtained from patients, subjected to x-ray therapy, no growth of cell cultures was detected. Electron microscopic studies of nonradiated tumor tissue revealed light and dark cells, while these were light and degenerating in the irradiated tissue.